Calls to probe genocide in Burundi

From PHYLLIS BIRORI in Kigali, RwandaKIGALI, (CAJ News) – THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has been urged to investigate serious human rights violations in Burundi.
The violations include including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence, cruel, inhuman treatment and enforced disappearances.
Among the alleged perpetrators, the commission mentioned members, including high level officials, of the National Intelligence Services and the national police force, military officials and members of the youth league of the ruling party, known as Imbonerakure.
They are aligned to President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The United Nations commission of inquiry on Burundi lamented the crimes against humanity had been committed since April 2015 when Nkurunziza, in power since 2005, refused to relinquish his reign at the end of his mandate.
“We were struck by the scale and the brutality of the violations,” said Fatsah Ouguergouz, president of the commission of inquiry.
The East African country is at loggerheads with UN.
Burundian authorities have rejected the commission’s repeated attempts to establish dialogue and to request information from the government.
The UN commission’s members were denied entry into Burundi.
“We deeply regret the Burundian government’s lack of cooperation,”Ouguergouz said.
The Burundi crisis is marked by protests, demonstrations and government crackdown.
Some 2 000 civilians have been killed and an estimated 5 000 opposition supporters detained.
Over 200 000 people have fled the country.
– CAJ News